The part of the school board's nutrition policy that bans food items that have sugar as the first ingredient and other fat content restrictions are not applicable to school celebrations or curriculum-related activities, she said.

The board considered revising the wording in the policy to make it more clear for teachers and parents, but Soisson said it didn't appear that would be a legal move.

"We are hoping to maintain the current policy, but we're hoping it is interpreted as we intended," she said.

The issue was brought to the board's attention last week when Sue Dicenzo, a Woods Elementary School teacher and parent, said she received a letter from the district stating certain foods were not allowed during the school day — at all.

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"As a result, in this email, teachers were asked to remind parents that cupcakes, ice cream, candy, pasta ... are not allowed during the school day," she said. "The nursing supervisor has said all forms of candy — that is not what the state policy says, nor is it what the board policy says," she said.

The school board's nutrition policy bans foods of "minimal nutritional value," all food and beverages that list sugar as the first ingredient, and all forms of candy — but food served during school parties would be exempt from the policy, unless it provides minimal nutritional value, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Lisa M. Antunes previously said snack choices have been an ongoing discussion when considering healthy choices and child allergies.

"Nobody wants to be the cupcake police," she said. "I certainly don't want to be the cupcake police."

Some items considered to have minimal nutritional value include Italian ice, chewing gum, soda water and hard candies, Soisson said.